Badger cull

The High Court has rejected an application to block a Defra badger cull, in R (on the application of Badger Trust) v Defra [2014] EWHC 2909 (Admin). The Badger Trust argued that Defra had given an unequivocal assurance that it would keep an independent expert panel (IEP) in place, and would not extend the cull beyond two pilot areas unless the IEP concluded it was safe, effective and humane to do so. Defra did not intend to keep the IEP in place. However, Mr Justice Kenneth Parker found that the trust had no “legitimate expectation” of this kind and, if it did, it would not be binding.